A Real SL 2000 Hack. Replace stock (burnt voice coils) with "silk diaphragm dome ".

Options
VSAT88
VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
in Vintage Speakers
Thought you all should see what I have been up to this time. Just wanted to see if I could do it. Until I get the replacement tweeters ( I have them on the way now) I decided to see if I could hack into the toasted SL 2000s I had. Well it worked, how well I don't really know yet. So far so good they actually sound better than I expected. I expected they would not work at all or would sound terrible and they don't. Either way these did not work at all and after this they do. There are just so many variables (as many as you can imagine) that there was almost no hope in getting them perfect at least in one try. It was worth $11.00 just to see what happened ! I have a lot of fun doing stuff like this. Inevitably I will try again with different domes another day, its just a matter of time. Who cares anyway, these are shop speakers and I have more on the way. Have fun with this one !
First I removed the silicon.
IMG_20150629_150717673_HDR1_zpsxctrxcod.jpg
Took it all apart.
IMG_20150629_150835528_HDR1_zpsmhjeut0s.jpg
Cleaned the gap with masking tape.
IMG_20150629_151212351_HDR1_zpsz1ae61kr.jpg
De soldered the old wire.
IMG_20150629_151746069_HDR1_zpspljxt0kf.jpg
Cleaned my fingertips and parts.
IMG_20150629_152252337_HDR1_zpsnfcfruh6.jpg
The old and new.
IMG_20150629_151926314_HDR1_zpsr30dntat.jpg
Test fit.
IMG_20150629_151847455_HDR1_zpsfiwjcxdx.jpg
A small amount of glue.
IMG_20150629_151855276_HDR1_zpsiqrnkmjd.jpg
Then I put it all back together and let it dry. And..Thanked my helper Hoo Doo !
IMG_20150317_2141498181_zpsmwgmbwfx.jpg

As always, my disclaimer ..Do not attempt at home ! Thanks for looking !









· Share on Facebook
«134567…25

Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 52,298
    Options
    I love stuff like that, thanks for posting it.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

    · Share on Facebook
  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,488
    Options
    Nice, you converted the tweeter into a woof-er.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
    · Share on Facebook
  • Hofy
    Hofy Posts: 169
    Options
    Nice, thanks for sharing. Do you have a link for where you purchased the silk diaphragm domes from?
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    Hofy wrote: »
    Nice, thanks for sharing. Do you have a link for where you purchased the silk diaphragm domes from?
    Kinda hate to say it but here on Flea Bay.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/280913355718?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
    Cant beat that price. Quick shipping considering.
    Item # Item: 280913355718..

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    skrol wrote: »
    Nice, you converted the tweeter into a woof-er.
    Now that was clever ! Cheers !!
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    nbrowser wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    I love stuff like that, thanks for posting it.

    Me too, gives me some ideas to play around with the blown SL-2000 I have sitting on top of a SDA around here....yeah it's been replaced!

    Thank you. If you decide to do so great. If you dont I will give you my address and I will victimize another SL 2000.

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    F1nut wrote: »
    I love stuff like that, thanks for posting it.
    Thanks F1, coming from you its a definite complement. I have not been here long at all but I see from reading you help a lot of people here. Thanks.
    · Share on Facebook
  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,125
    edited June 2015
    Options
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    Then I put it all back together and let it dry.
    I'm thinking that the devil is in the details.
    How did you center the voice coils so they don't scrape the magnet/pole piece assembly?
    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    Excellent job! I'm going to order a couple myself.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    Options
    Thanks for posting. Always had a vague idea of what's behind the dome.
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
    · Share on Facebook
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,769
    Options
    Since Polk and Peerless were together for a while back in the day I never understood why Polk never incorporated the replaceable silk dome and voice coil that Peerless made and sold to many speaker makers. I used them and they were wonderful.

    Trust me if I'd of seen these I would of tried it also ..great job.
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    Schurkey wrote: »
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    Then I put it all back together and let it dry.
    I'm thinking that the devil is in the details.
    How did you center the voice coils so they don't scrape the magnet/pole piece assembly?
    They center themselves as far as I could tell anyway. the plastic/dome material gos all the way out to the edge of the plastic housing just like the factory one did. Kind of remains to me seen if I got it right though..No scraping that I can hear..so far.
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    westmassguy wrote: »
    Excellent job! I'm going to order a couple myself.
    Why not it was a fun project ! Thanks .

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Since Polk and Peerless were together for a while back in the day I never understood why Polk never incorporated the replaceable silk dome and voice coil that Peerless made and sold to many speaker makers. I used them and they were wonderful.

    Trust me if I'd of seen these I would of tried it also ..great job.

    Wow thanks ! And I agree. A lot of manufactures could sell a lot of parts if you were allowed to change out the dome to suit your personal taste. Kind of like ordering Bob Crites diaphragms for my Klipsch speakers. I think they sound much better than the factory ones and I am glad I did it !

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    Keiko wrote: »
    Very cool indeed. Thanks for sharing.
    Thanks !

    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    westmassguy wrote: »
    Excellent job! I'm going to order a couple myself.
    Why not it was a fun project ! Thanks .

    I ordered them. I've got a couple of paperweight SL2000s. I think I'll do an A/B with the RDO-194s, see how they stack up. Could be interesting.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    I will say this, it may be my ears are better today than yesterday ( yes I do have some ringing in my ears) or that they have just started to "break in" but it seems as if every time I go back out to my shop they sound better. I have been letting them play as much as I can..
    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    Mechanical break in is inherent for any driver with a flexible surround.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook
  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    Options
    Very helpful to anyone trying to repair an SL2000, thanks for the post and great job!
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
    · Share on Facebook
  • drumminman
    drumminman Posts: 3,396
    Options
    What kind of glue did you use?
    "Science is suppose to explain observations not dismiss them as impossible" - Norm on AA; 2.3TL's w/sonicaps/mills/jantzen inductors, Gimpod's boards, Lg Solen SDA inductors, RD-0198's, MW's dynamatted, Armaflex speaker gaskets, H-nuts, brass spikes, Cardas CCGR BP's, upgraded IC Cable, Black Hole Damping Sheet strips, interior of cabinets sealed with Loctite Power Grab, AI-1 interface with 1000VA A-L transformer
    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    This stuff called E 6000 but I would not use it again. Too tough to deal with (stringy) and would not stick as I wanted. I will use in in the area between the voice coil wires that go over to the speaker connectors on top though. Clear and works perfectly there. Please do not get me wrong, it is absolutely awesome on some materials just not this one. I emailed the diaphragm manufacturer (after I did the job, smart guy I am..) and they said the part was made of cloth. I do not think so. Seems like at least the outer ring is made of a very thin plastic. I am going to use regular 100% silicon next time unless someone here post back with a better glue.
    drumminman wrote: »
    What kind of glue did you use?

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    headrott wrote: »
    Very helpful to anyone trying to repair an SL2000, thanks for the post and great job!
    I have actually repaired one or two before and was not at all unhappy with the result. I took the silicon (very carefully) off the top of the tweeter and found the break in the wire soldered it back and put E 6000 on top of the factory black silicon after soldering it. Yes. I put on way too much glueThe loose wire was at the speakers lead wire. I did not take this one completely apart. Please keep in mind these were for shop speakers and think having a working tweeter is better than no tweeter..Ask the woof-er.
    IMG_20150701_1447051721_zpsumbwet2p.jpg
    · Share on Facebook
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 27,769
    Options
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    I am going to use regular 100% silicon next time unless someone here post back with a better glue.

    I would not use that to glue the diaphragm to the plastic bezel... when silicone cures it out-gases acetic acid which I've heard is not so good on electronics. I will state that it sure seems to me that is what Polk used and might be fine for the leeds to +/- but not the actual dome...maybe superglue?

    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    I'm going to use my go-to glue, Aleen's Tacky Glue.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook
  • CTTE
    CTTE Posts: 183
    Options

    westmassguy wrote: »
    I think I'll do an A/B with the RDO-194s, see how they stack up. Could be interesting.

    I'm looking forward to your comparison. I have a very nice pair of Monitor 10B's in storage because of the fatiguing sound of the SL2000s.

    · Share on Facebook
  • oldrocker
    oldrocker Posts: 2,590
    Options
    Great thread, pics and info.

    Got few 2000's here and that looks like fun.

    THANKS for the posting.

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I'm going to use my go-to glue, Aleen's Tacky Glue.
    I have been wanting to go buy some of that anyway so..away I go. I have an old dome and an old tweeter so I am going to do some experimentation with Superglue and Aleen's and see how I fair.

    · Share on Facebook
  • VSAT88
    VSAT88 Posts: 1,379
    Options
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I think I'll do an A/B with the RDO-194s, see how they stack up. Could be interesting.


    I was thinking about that. I would like to know as well. I do not have any RDO-194 so please let us know if we can build some homemade ones !

    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I'm going to use my go-to glue, Aleen's Tacky Glue.
    I have been wanting to go buy some of that anyway so..away I go. I have an old dome and an old tweeter so I am going to do some experimentation with Superglue and Aleen's and see how I fair.
    I wouldn't recommend Cyanoacrylate as it bonds instantly. You're better off with a slower setting glue, like Aleen's. I looked at the manufactures photos, and the underside/glue side is Textile/Silk. Aleen's should adhere well with it, and I already now it bonds well with plastic frames. I've re-edged at least 500 Bose 901/802 Drivers with Cloth Surrounds and Plastic Basket Frames.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Options
    VSAT88 wrote: »
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I think I'll do an A/B with the RDO-194s, see how they stack up. Could be interesting.


    I was thinking about that. I would like to know as well. I do not have any RDO-194 so please let us know if we can build some homemade ones !
    It will be an ad hock test. I don't have elaborate testing equipment.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
    · Share on Facebook